Paint brush cleaner



March 25, 1958 w. v. SPEER PAINT BRUSH CLEANER Filed May 3, 1954 PEG 5.

, INVENTOR JWILLIAM v. SPEER av ATTO I NEY United This invention relates to the art of brush cleaners and particularly concerns a novel device for cleaning paint from bristle brushes.

In order that paint brushes may retain their maximum usefulness, it is necessary that they be cleaned after using. The cleaning procedure includes immersion in a suitable paint solvent. Such a procedure to be wholly effective requires use of some mechanical means to supplement the action of the solvent to remove all paint from the brush. If cleaning is not done immediately after use the paint solidifies on the bristles so that the brush cannot be cleaned by immersion in the solvent alone but requires that the bristles be rubbed by some mechanical means to separate the bristles so that the solvent may enter the brush. The mechanical means also serves to remove undissolved paint particles from the bristles.

It has been known to employ various types of forks to comb the bristles in a crude manner during cleaning in a solvent. The use of a comb of any type is undesirable because it injures the brush by cutting or tearing the bristles and it is not effective to drain the solvent and dissolved paint from the brush. The usual mechanical brush cleaner leaves the solvent contaminated by paint particles so that subsequent brushes cannot be properly cleaned and the solvent must be discarded.

The present invention is directed to solving the above mentioned difficulties by means of a relatively simple and inexpensive device. The device is easy to manufacture and wholly effective in use. Brushes are thoroughly cleaned without tearing bristles and in addition the paint solvent is strained and left clear of undissolved paint particles.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a paint brush cleaner which is simple in structure yet wholly eifective to clean bristles and retain paint particles for instant disposal.

It is a further object to provide a paint brush cleaning device which includes a screen body adapted to fit a container of paint solvent.

It is a further object to provide a paint brush cleaning device which includes means for scraping paint from the brush and further includes means for straining paint particles from a paint solvent used with the device.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a paint brush cleaning device.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the device of Figs. 1 and 2 in use.

Fig. 4 shows a front view of a preferred modification of the invention as claimed herein.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the modification of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on lines 6-6 of Fig. 4.

In Figs. 1 and 2 is shown a wood handle 10 to which is attached a crossbar 11 by a rivet 12. A substantially rectangular screen 13 is secured by staples 14 to the handle 10. The outer edge 15 of the screen is rolled to provide a. smooth edge. Screen 13 is formed of metal Patent 2,827,647 Patented Mar. 25, 1958 hardware cloth. The free end E of the screen is rounded. Secured to the rounded end of the screen is a U-shaped flange 17. The handle 10 extends only part way along the central axis of the screen so that the lower portion L of the screen is flexible about a line perpendicular to the handle 10.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated the preferred manner of operation of the device. The device is inserted in a pail P containing a suitable paint solvent S. The lower end of handle 10 rests on the bottom of the pail. In this position the lower portion L of the screen is bent at an angle to the handle and lies on the bottom of the pail. A brush B to be cleaned is immersed in solvent S and then its bristles C are rubbed on the screen 13. The rubbing of the bristles along the staples 14 scrubs the brush and removes particles A which settle to the bottom of the solvent and collect on portion L of the screen. As the brush cleaning device is removed from the pail the screen straightens itself while the solvent is strained through the screen 13. Flange 17 operates to retain the loose particles on the screen from which they can easily be shaken or Washed to prepare the device for further use. In order to improve the cleaning action screen 13 may be made of a rather coarse mesh.

In the preferred modification of Figs. 4, 5, 6, handle 10 is formed as a generally U-shaped wire frame. A flange 19 is attached across the upper end of screen 13' and serves as a scraping means for a brush to be cleaned. The lower portion L of the screen 13' is bent perpendicularly to handle 10. To the lower portion L is attached the line mesh screen 18. Since the screen is permanently bent, the flange 17 is not required, but it may be used if desired to retain the paint particles on the screen.

A crossbar 20 is provided at the handle 16' to join the free ends of the wire handle. The crossbar is attached by welding or other suitable means. The free end E of the screens 13 and 18 is rounded so that the horizontal portion L' will conform generally to the shape of a pail, can or other container of solvent.

In use the modification of Figs. 4, 5, 6 will be employed in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 3. The brush to be cleaned will be immersed in solvent S; then the bristles C will be rubbed on screen 13' and scraped on flange 19. This procedure will be repeated until the brush is thoroughly clean. The cleaning device will then be removed from the solvent. As it is removed the solvent will be strained causin loose paint particles to collect on the screen portion L from which they will be washed or shaken free.

A particular feature of the present invention is that provision is made for straining or screening the solvent after the brush is cleaned so that the solvent is left clear for further use to clean further brushes.

The invention has been described with respect to its use for cleaning paint brushes. it will be obvious that it can also be used effectively to clean paint rollers as well as brushes of other types.

Although only a limited number of embodiments have been described, this has been done by way of illustration rather than limitation. The invention is not to be construed as limited only to the preferred modification since many changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for cleaning paint brushes, rollers and the like in a container of solvent, said device comprising a substantially fiat frame, the upper end of said frame being shaped to form a handle for holding the frame, a generally rectangular screen secured to said frame below said handle, the upper portion of said screen being disposed fiat against said frame, the lower portion of said 3 r a screen being bent outwardly from said frame at an angle of approximately 90 degrees relative to said frame, whereby said outwardly bent lower portion of the screen will be disposed-in a'substantially horizontal plane within the container of solvent when the frame is held byits handle in a generally upright position, said screen being of'a mesh sufliciently fine to trap paint particles that may be mechanically dislodged from a paint brush, the upper portion of said screen being adapted to serve as a scraper when a paint brush is rubbed against it' to dislodge such paint particles, the outwardly bent lower portion of the screen being adapted to catch such dislodged paint particles.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein a flange is'se- 4 rubbed against the screen to free the paint particles therefrom, the lower end of said frame being disposed adjacent the side edges of the screen at the juncture between the upper and lower portions of said screen, there- 'by reinforcing the screen at said juncture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES'PATENTS 1,285,948 Cook Nov. 26, 1918 2,546,041 Newton et al Mar. 20, 1951 r 2,659,096 Mencfeldowski Nov. 17, 1953' 2,669,965 Coughlan Feb. 23, 1954 2,723,410 Sprung et al Nov. 15, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,063

Great Britain June 13, 1 896 

